[meteorite-list] 2008 Perseids

[Notkin]

Dear Listees:

It's almost that time of year again. Here are some viewing tips for  
the 2008 Perseid shower for all you night owls. The expected peak is  
in ten days' time:


PERSEIDS

Predicted Maximum: August 12, 2008 11:30 UT [= Aug. 12, 4:30am PDT; =  
Aug. 12, 7:30 am EDT])
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (moderate interference)
(radiant map from IMO)

WHEN TO WATCH: Tuesday morning, August 12, from about 1:00 am until  
morning twilight gets too bright.

The Perseids are probably the most-watched annual meteor shower. The  
shower has a very long duration, from about July 15 through August  
25.  The shower is most interesting around its peak on August 12 or  
13. This year, the peak comes on August 12 because of the leap year.  
The radiant is above the horizon the entire night for observers north  
of latitude 32N, but it is fairly low at the end of evening twilight.   
Evening Perseid rates are fairly low, and the bright Moon makes things  
worse this year. The real meat of the show comes during the predawn  
hours when the Moon is down and the radiant is high.

Predawn rates for observers with truly dark skies may exceed 100  
Perseids per hour (West Coast of North America and/or Eastern Asia may  
be favored this year), with a nice sprinkling of sporadic and minor  
shower meteors added to the mix.  Adjacent mornings from August 10  
through August 13 are well worth watching, although rates will be  
significantly lower.

Perseids are fast meteors and tend to be fairly bright on average.  An  
occasional fireball is seen.


Source:  http://skytour.homestead.com/met2008.html#anchor_9



Geoff N.
www.aerolite.org